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Everyone at the Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp is very proud of the team of instructors we've been able to assemble for our students. Here at the camp, in one place, on one weekend of the year, we have brought together a really outstanding group of musicians. This year most of the fine people who taught last year will be back. Several new instructors will join us, each with much to offer you. Some entirely new classes have been added.
	Every one of the camp instructors is also an outstanding teacher, able to pass along to you the wonderful things they know about acoustic music. Once again you'll be able to combine sheer fun with a wonderful opportunity to work with a large and varied group of the finest acoustic musicians anywhere on what you personally want to do in music!
This year's SSAMC instructors are introduced below!

AUTOHARP: JIM STRICKLAND. Joining us to teach Autoharp this year is genial Jim, a professional old-time musician and event producer with much to offer students of Autoharp. He has performed at many festivals and concerts. Along with “Cousin Ernie” Williams, Jim has been Co-Director of the Florida Old Time Music Championship since its inception. As such, he has brought some of the best master old time musicians to central Florida. He is also Co-Director of the Suwannee Old Time Music Weekend held at and sponsored by the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs. He's an expert player and a relaxed, kindly teacher. Handouts and one-on-one time will be available! Don't miss Jim.

ACCOMPANIMENT GUITAR: JOE WALLER. Accompaniment guitar students will have the opportunity this year to learn from the very talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter Joe Waller. Joe, who is from the Orlando area, is very active in music in Florida and elsewhere. He's a genial and gifted instructor who has presented guitar workshops at the Florida Folk Festival and elsewhere. We are lucky to have Joe with us. Don't miss this class, folks!

BASS:JIM DAVIS. Many of you have seen and heard ace bass fiddle player Jim Davis as he has performed and recorded in a wide variety of situations with Charley Groth, with the Crabgrass Cowboys, and others. Jim's knowledge of a the bass fiddle is not to be missed, so, bassists, come and be ready to learn more about this VERY important instrument!

CONCERTINA: BILL SCHUSTIK. The amazing, multi-talented Bill Schustik joins us to teach concertina this year. We are very lucky to have Bill. He travels all over America gathering songs and sowing legends. The tools of his trade include his magnificent baritone voice, a keen sense of drama, a colorful array of folk instruments, and a deep abiding love for traditional American lore. Don't miss your concertina lessons with Bill.

FIDDLE, ENTRY: KATIE BAILEY. Accomplished fiddler Katie Bailey has become a favorite instructor at the SSAMC. Here's Katie surrounded by happy students at the 2001 camp. She brings her great knowledge of fiddling along with warmth and unfailing good nature to the SSAMC, and she's just the person to help you get into fiddling!

FIDDLE, ADVANCED: ELAN CHALFORD. Pictured here is advanced fiddle instructor Elan Chalford in the act of passing the heritage along to a charmed student at the SSAMC. We believe this is really, really important. Elan has played everywhere and with everybody, on a host of albums, with his and many other bands, and on and on. We are very lucky to have this master musician as an instructor participant in the music camp.

FINGERSTYLE GUITAR: BARRY BROGAN. Barry Brogan plays the twenties and thirties pieces that have been played in dance halls and front porches, and a few juke joint jazz bands for decades, and contemporary pieces descended from those traditions. Brogan plays guitar, fingerstyle, and slide, in the blues and ragtime traditions of the Southeast, from Sylvester Weaver onward. He includes repertoire from Bessie Smith, Clarence Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Fats Waller, Arthur (Blind) Blake and Robert Johnson. Modern composers would include John Fahey, Jorma Kaukonen, Harvey Reid, Mike Dowling. An award winning guitarist, Barry's fingerpicking is enjoyed regularly at several of Florida’s Festivals: Barberville, Florida Old Time Music Championships and Gamble Rogers Festival. He appears regularly at Pelican Island and Washington Oaks Gardens Earth Day festivals. .

FLATPICKING GUITAR: DAN OST. Well known for his sparkling flatpicking, Dan Ost has recently joined the ranks of hot musicians populating the Austin, Texas, music scene. He'll be back in Florida for the music camp, and we are fortunate to have him! Dan is a dedicated musician, recording artist, singer, songwriter, and student of music. He is a fine flatpicker and a patient, understanding teacher. He performs solo, with wife Diana as Flatlander Folk, with internationally touring musician Charley Groth, and with others. Flatpick folks...don't miss Dan Ost's classes!

GROUP PLAYING: FRED CANTOR. A very important part of learning to make music is learning how to play in a group, no matter what instrument you choose. It isn't as simple as just making as much noise as you can! Fred Cantor is a very experienced musician, performer and teacher, who will be showing you how this year. We welcome Fred to the camp, and we know his contributions will be great!

INTERNET FOR MUSICIANS: BILL PERRAS. In addition to his work as Guitah' Bill with partner Ms. Eli in the highly successful Bluesgotus duo, performers of original acoustic folk, blues and activist music, Bill Perras is a computer expert who shares his knowlege of internet for musicians with us this year! Don't miss this highly informative class!

IRISH (PENNYWHISTLE, BODHRAN, PUB SINGING): MAC PERRY. Mac Perry is a veteran professional musician, a horticulturalist, and an archaeologist. He brings his knowledge and expertise in Irish musical pursuits to the camp. He has a deep and wide experience with the subjects he will teach, and more in music as well. We are lucky to have him bringing all of this to the music camp. Enjoy, students!

HARMONICA: JOE REINA. Seen on the right, here, teaching at the 2001 SSAMC, performer and recording artist Joe Reina is the 2002 Florida state championship winner in harmonica. He knows what he is doing, he does it very well indeed, and he has been the camp’s harmonica man for years. He makes that harmonica walk and talk...and he does a great job of teaching you how, too!

HARP: MARG CHAUVIN. Marg Chauvin is a fine musician who plays and loves the harp. She has performed in a wide variety of events: The Wings & Strings festival, Scottish Highland Games in Jacksonville, Willfest 2002, and many more. Marg is a professional teacher who knows how to introduce you to this ancient and beautiful instrument.

LAP DULCIMER: LYNN WADLEY, BRUCE FORD. Lynn Wadley (pictured) is a delightful singer/songwriter, storyteller and folk musician from Jacksonville, Florida who is skilled in playing the lap or mountain dulcimer as well as several other instruments. Lynn is a gifted and encouraging teacher of this wonderful traditional American instrument! Her classes at the camp will focus on the needs of beginning to intermediate players. Assisting Lynn this year will be Bruce Ford. In 2002, Bruce founded EverythingDulcimer.com, a leading dulcimer website. Recently EverythingDulcimer.com teamed up with Dulcimer Players News and hosted the Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival in June 2008.

MANDOLIN: DENNIS DEVINE. One of Florida’s best acoustic musicians, Dennis joins us again this year to share his encyclopedic knowledge of mandolin. Everyone who takes his classes reports him to be one of the best--a great teacher for folks at any level! Mandolinists and those who would be--here's your chance!

NEVER TOO LATE: CARROLL SMITH. Carroll Smith first began playing music when he was over fifty years old. Today he is a wise, witty, and beloved old-time banjo picker and a philosopher with much that is important to teach those who are beginning in music, at whatever age. This class is an important feature of our music camp and should not be missed by those who need (sometimes more than they know) to hear what Carroll has to say and experience what he has to show them.

MUSIC THEORY: CHARLEY GROTH. SSAMC director Charley Groth (seen here on the right, teaching a guitar class) is a lifelong musician, composer, and music teacher. He also has an academic background in music. In his music theory workshop Charley explains the "nuts and bolts" of music in terms you’ll understand. Take a look at what’s under the hood!

OLD-TIME BANJO: MATTHEW SABATELLA. A very high-level old-time banjo artist, fine instructor, and very nice guy, Matthew Sabatella brings his banjo expertise to the music camp, prepared to teach you how he does it! Banjo players and wannabes, do not miss these great classes!

SINGING: SUZANNE ALVAREZ. Suzanne is a singer, songwriter, storyteller and actress who received professional theatre training from USF, Tampa. A native Floridian, she also spent several years in Ithaca, NY ( a town brimming with talented artists, musicians, poets and food co-ops). Her musical interests range from folk to classical to musical theatre to electronic music, to sacred chants from around the world. Suzanne loves nature, spirituality and the healing arts and feels that music (especially singing) is one of the most direct paths to Source. She is looking forward to teaching you about singing! Do you want to sing? Don't miss this!

SONGWRITING: DOUG SPEARS. Once again this year we're happy to have award-winning songwriter Doug Spears at the SSAMC. Doug has been writing songs and performing for more than 30 years. He has been repeatedly recognized for his well developed craft. His song Break Some Stones won first place in the American Songwriter Magazine Lyrics Contest. In 1997 Doug won the Will McLean award given by the Will McLean Foundation for his song Banks of the Old St. John’s. He is a consistent top 10 finisher for that award. He is a two time finalist in the South Florida Folk Festival Songwriters’ Competition and a finalist in the Suwannee Springfest Songwriters’ Competition. Last year his song A Mother's Tears was a top 20 finalist in the AAA / Americana category of the Unisong International 10th Annual Songwriting Contest 2005-06 and another of his tunes received Honorable Mention. In January 2006 Songwriter Universe Magazine selected Doug’s song This Old House as one of its top 5 songs of the month.